Russian-Western cooperation since 2022

[Blijdorpenaar]

I was wondering if anyone knows what's currently the deal with international cooperation between zoos and conservationists in Russia and the West, considering the tense (understatement) situation these past two years. There were quite a few running projects that involved the transport of animals, including the reintroduction of various cranes, as well as research into establishing a second population of Amur leopards. Of course there are also a handful of Russian zoos that actively participate in EAZA breeding programs. Has a 100% 'iron wall' been created following the war in Ukraine? Or do transports still take place occassionally?

 

[Jana]

Animal transports between Russia and EU are running (at least domestic dogs and cats are getting moved legally on trucks on way EU/Belarus/Russia and back without problems just like before the war.). I know an animal transport company here that doest it beweekly.

Animals are not on list of military or dual use material thus there is no EU embargo.

Any "iron wall" that might be erected is more about lack of direct flights, hardships to get visa and personal distaste to cooperate with anything russian.

 

[Haliaeetus]

No link with Russia, but a Belgian facility sent one female Siberian Crane to Iran, another country that has currently horrible diplomatic relations with EU and more broadly, all the "West".
This crane has been sent in January 2023 as a mate for the last representent of this species to winter in Iran.
La dernière Grue de Sibérie hivernant en Iran a enfin rencontré un congénère en 2023, après plusieurs années de solitude | Ornithomedia.com